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A medical power of attorney form allows a person (“principal”) to select an agent to make health care decisions on their behalf ONLY if they are not able to make decisions for themselves. This is often due to the principal being considered incapacitated by a licensed physician. The agent selected must follow the principal’s preferred treatment options as written in the medical power of attorney or their living will.

Signing Requirements -Depending on the State, it may be required to sign with either two (2) witnesses, a notary public, or both.

By State

Medical Power of Attorney: By State
What is a Medical Power of Attorney?
- (Video)
Signing Requirements
How to Get Medical POA (4 steps)
Medical POA vs Living Will
When to Use a Medical Power of Attorney
(Video) What is a Medical Power of Attorney?
How to Write a Medical Power of Attorney
State Laws
Related Forms

What is a Medical Power of Attorney?

A medical power of attorney (MPOA) is a designation made to select a person, known as the “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”, to make health care decisions on behalf of someone else (“principal”). The power of attorney goes into effect after a licensed physician has deemed the principal incapable of making decisions for themselves. It’s recommended for a person that makes a medical power of attorney to also create a living will to write their treatment preferences for an agent to follow.

(Video)

Signing Requirements

STATE	SIGNING REQUIREMENTS	LAWS
Alabama	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 22-8A-4(c)(4)
Alaska	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	AS 13.52.010(b)
Arizona	Notary Public or One (1) Witness	§ 36-3221(A)(3)
Arkansas	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 20-6-103(c)
California	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 4701(e)
Colorado	No law (Notary Public recommended)	§ 15-14-506
Connecticut	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 19a-575
Delaware	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 2503(b)(1)(d)
Florida	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 765.202(1)
Georgia	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 31-32-5
Hawaii	Notary Public and Two (2) Witnesses	§ 327E-3(1)
Idaho	No law (Notary Public recommended)	§ 39-4510
Illinois	One (1) Witness	755 ILCS 45/4-5.1
Indiana	One (1) Witness	§ 16-36-1-7(b)(3)
Iowa	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 144B.3(b)
Kansas	Notary Public and Two (2) Witnesses	§ 58-632
Kentucky	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 311.625(2)
Louisiana	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 224 (A)
Maine	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 5-803(2)
Maryland	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 5–603
Massachusetts	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 201D-2
Michigan	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 700.5506(4)
Minnesota	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 145C.03(5)
Mississippi	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 41-41-205(2)
Missouri	Notary Public	§ 404.705(3)
Montana	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 50-9-103
Nebraska	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 30-3404(5)
Nevada	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	NRS 162A.790
New Hampshire	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 137-J:14
New Jersey	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 26:2H-56
New Mexico	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 24-7A-4
New York	Two (2) Witnesses	PBH § 2981
North Carolina	Notary Public and Two (2) Witnesses	§ 32A-16A(3)
North Dakota	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 23-06.5-05(d)
Ohio	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 1337.12(1)(b)
Oklahoma	Two (2) Witnesses	63 O.S. § 3101.4(A)
Oregon	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 127.515(2)
Pennsylvania	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 5452(b)(2)
Rhode Island	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 23-4.10-2(9)
South Carolina	Notary Public and Two (2) Witnesses	§ 62-5-517
South Dakota	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 34-12D-2
Tennessee	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 34-6-203(a)(3)
Texas	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 166.154
Utah	One (1) Witness	§ 75-2a-107(c)
Vermont	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 9703(b)
Virginia	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 54.1-2983
Washington	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 11.125.050
West Virginia	Notary Public and Two (2) Witnesses	§ 16-30-4(a)
Wisconsin	Two (2) Witnesses	§ 155.10(1)(c)
Wyoming	Notary Public or Two (2) Witnesses	§ 35-22-403(b)

How to Get Medical POA (4 steps)

Step 1 – Select Your Agent

The Agent that you select will have the responsibility of making your decisions based on your health care situation. Therefore you will want someone that you trust and is aware of your basic medical history (such as heart conditions, medication, allergies, etc.)

Successor (2nd) Agent – Individual selected only if the primary agent is not able to fulfill their duties. Co-agent authority is not usually allowed, must be the decision of 1 person.
Compensation – You have the option to set up compensation for the agent selected for lodging, food, and travel costs.

Step 2 – Agent’s Decisions

The decisions you give your agent related to your health care is up to you. You can allow your agent to make any type of decision that presents itself or you could limit your agent to only certain types of decision making. The more detailed you are as to what your agent can and cannot do will enhance the medical staff on your health intentions.

Example – Requesting the agent to refuse life support if there is little to no chance of a full recovery.

The following powers of the agent should be written:

Surgical Treatments
Nursing Home Treatment/Care
Hospitalization
Medical Treatment
Psychiatric Treatment
HomeStay Care
Organ Donation
End of Life Decisions

Step 3 – Attach a Living Will

A living will is a highly recommended option to be attached to any medical power of attorney. In addition to having someone speak on their behalf, a living will outlines a person’s end of life treatment selections.

For example, if a person should become in an incapacitated state with no chance for a cure, they can select to withhold life-sustaining methods to keep them alive. In addition, it allows the selection for organ donation and other post-death options.

Step 4 – Sign & Complete

The Principal and Agent must sign in accordance with their respective State Signing Laws. In most cases, the form may be signed in the presence of two (2) witnesses or notary public, and sometimes both. After this has been legally authorized the document becomes valid to be used. The Principal must be thinking freely during the creation of this form.

The Agent should carry an original copy of their form and will most likely need to present it during every occurrence. It is recommended to give a copy of this form to your primary care physician.

When to Use a Medical POA

A medical power of attorney is commonly used for:

The elderly;
Individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or other mental illness;
Those seeking risky surgery in the near future; and
Any person who may become in a life-threatening situation.

Incapacitated WITHOUT a Medical Power of Attorney

If a person becomes incapacitated without a medical power of attorney typically their spouse or close family member will be able to speak on their behalf with hospital staff. Legally speaking, guardianship rights may have to be applied for in the person’s local jurisdiction.

Medical POA vs Living Will

A medical power of attorney lets a person select their preferred treatment options with the use of choosing an agent to carry out their wishes. The agent will have full authority to make any type of decision to prolong or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

A living will allows a person to select their preferred treatment options without the use of an agent. A living will directs medical staff their intentions to prolong or withdraw life-sustaining treatments depending on their condition.

How to Write a Medical POA

Download in Adobe PDF (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.docx), or Open Document Text (.odt).

To write a medical power of attorney the principal, or person granting power, will have to elect someone to handle their health care decisions (along with up to two (2) ‘secondary’ or ‘alternate’ agents in the chance the first does not show). Once a representative has been decided to begin by filling in the following:

Step 1 – In Section I (Appointment of Health Care Agent) the Principal and Agent full name and address. At the bottom of the section, the home phone, work phone, cell phone, and e-mail of the agent should be written.

medical-power-of-attorney-appointment-of-agent

Step 2 – In Section II the principal should include any exceptions (if any) from the broad powers the agent will have.

medical-poa-limitations-on-agent

Step 3 – In Section III, the principal has the option of selecting up to two (2) alternate agents in the chance individuals are unavailable for an act for the principal.

medical-poa-alternate-secondary-agent

Step 4 – In Section IV list the locations where originals and copies of this document will be held.

medical-poa-original-copies-where-held-location

Step 5 – In Section V, if the power of attorney will have an end period check the box and initial with the date that the form expires.

medical-poa-duration

Step 6 – On the last two (2) pages the individuals listed should sign the form in the presence of a notary public and/or two (2) witnesses that are not in any way connected (blood/marriage) with the parties authorizing the form.